Crossfire with McPhaul - 03/19/2014

[J.B. TexasEx]

As far as Big 12 expansion - has everyone forgotten what Bowlsby said? "Unless there is a definite upgrade ($) to the conference, we won't expand just for expansions sake".
Assuming they were available, what teams would be an upgrade to the Big 12?

ACC

FSU

Clemson

Big East

Louisville

The State of Florida

UCF

I left Miami out because, really, what do they bring to the table? They are no better than U of H as far as their fan support. Hell, they can't even fill a high school stadium for their spring game. That's sad.

BYU, but I don't think Big 12 teams like their "no playing on Sunday" baggage.

Agree with Miami. They fall into the same category as Cincinnati, Memphis and Houston. Commuter schools without solid fan support.

Frankly, I'm still surprised TCU was selected over Louisville. Their fans are fickle at best. Attendance was embarrassing for their home game versus Kansas and they don't support basketball much. Boss Dodds just wanted another TX school and they were the best available at the time. OU signed off because of their alumni base in DFW.

 

[Embrey]

Full disclosure: TCU grad here.

I always thought that what Dodds et al were responding to was allowing another (major?) conference, the Big East, gain a pipeline into Texas recruiting.

In retrospect, it appears that either the Big East, as we used to know it, or the Big 12 was a goner.

Once Texas ATM opened the door wider to the Greater Houston area to OOS teams, I felt the Big 12 could not allow that to happen in DFW and TCU was the only team that qualified as a legitimate mid-major in the D-FW area.

Do any of you guys believe that TCU is diluting Texas' or any other teams recruiting prowess in the Metroplex. TCU is no recruiting powerhouse but that is their goal. As they put it, they are trying to 'put a wall around the Metroplex' with the relationships they have developed with the high school coaches there. I have noticed that OU has decided to go to more of a national recruiting strategy than before.

I have often thought that the best mid-major job in the country for a great coach was UH. All he had to do was recruit a 75 mile radius around the city. I shudder to think what Art Briles could have done there had he have stayed for 10+ years.

 

[PropositionJoe]

LOL. Well, Joe, he had those same HS kids when he moved from Houston to CS - didn't seem to bother him then. But, I agree with you - the NFL was, perhaps, the biggest threat. However, the way I actually heard it was Sumlin was pursuing the NFL - not the other way around. There was some interest, but his lack of big time HC football experience was a detriment. Maybe if he can show some head coaching maturity and longevity at A&M the interest will pick up. At least more than it has.
I disagree with the contentment in CS, however. Do you still live there because you love it so much?

I doubt his kids were high school aged when he came on board at A&M.

The rumors on our end was that both the browns and eagles were interested in him after the '12 season and he declined both.

And yes I actually do live in college station. It's a great town for families. Small, good schools, low crime. All in all a pretty nice place to live.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Do any of you guys believe that TCU is diluting Texas' or any other teams recruiting prowess in the Metroplex. TCU is no recruiting powerhouse but that is their goal. As they put it, they are trying to 'put a wall around the Metroplex' with the relationships they have developed with the high school coaches there. I have noticed that OU has decided to go to more of a national recruiting strategy than before.

Not really, but TCU is getting more and better DFW recruits than ever before.

Look, as a DFW Texas-Ex I'm not disappointed TCU is in the Big 12. I went to UT baseball and hoops games recently and love the convenience. It's also nice seeing Big 12 coverage in the Star-Telegram (for a change) even if they are UT haters.

 

[TheContractor]

Q) How are the Texas coaches receiving the new staff and coach Strong? It sounds like the out of state kids like Strong but the in state kids have not warmed up to him yet. I wondered if it is because their high school coaches are not quite sold on Strong yet?

A) The High School coaches & recruit that are not familiar with Coach Strong are taking a wait and see approach. Some of these High School coaches are close to Mack and Mack has not yet given Coach Strong an endorsement.

 

 

HAHA, tells us all we need to know. He can spend 16 hrs a day on twitter all he wants just get his backstabbing ass out of here.

 

[TheContractor]

I would not doubt if Mack is hoping Texas tanks this season to make him the missing link. Sad really. Also, I wouldn't hold my breath on anything substantial happening with atm. Half of major college football is illegally recruiting. That coupled with the NCAA being a spineless organization equals possible probation at best. Nothing will be done and schools will continue to do what they do.

"would not doubt?" you can put $ he hopes we lose every game.

agree, NCAA will do nothing even if there is video evidence and the players and coaches and boosters admit it.

 

[TheContractor]

Mike, old buddy, I don't doubt you have some info on Sumlin and I don't doubt McPhaul's sources either. More than you know, actually.
Let me get this out of the way. I think Sumlin is an excellent coach and has taken the pre-recruited talent at A&M and done exactly what he did at U of H with Briles left overs. He should be given credit for recognizing the kind of kid that Manziel was and utilizing him to the fullest. He, also, knew what to do with those NFL caliber linemen, that were already there. I'm not being snarky about this as I don't think Mack Brown would have had a clue what to do with those kids. And let's not forget the currently #1 recruiting class he is developing either. Publicity and momentum has its rewards and he is taking full advantage of it.

The problem, as I see it and from many decades of observing A&M, is the aggy culture itself and what Sumlin will do when things begin to unravel. Aggie alumni are not adverse doing things beyond the rules - remember the SWC? And they are not adverse now, either. Particularly in the shady SEC (if you ain't cheating, you ain't trying) and particularly their frantic desire to show up UT and salve their inferiority complexes. And, oh yes, they have them big time. You think not? Did you attend fish camp or belong to the ridiculous ROTC cult? Did you swoon over the aggy "war hymn" and hullabaloo and caneck, caneck your hearts out? Did you (Ah,ha,ha) beat us to Chigaroogarem? Did you march in the band that "sawed the horns off" of UT at the half of the final beat down by UT? The same half the UT band played a salute to A&M, with the song "Thanks for the memories"? After watching this, which school do you think was the most paranoid and neurotically brainwashed?

Remember when ya'll talked about "The honor code" and "traditions"? Now that these things have been proven to be utter BS, where can an aggy hang his hat if not on winning football at any cost? The very mantra of the SEC, SEC, SEC.

So, I remind you, boys - you know how this will end. And long before it does, you will have seen the last of Mr. Sumlin. He will be long gone to better hunting grounds where there are no investigations or sanctions coming down.

Book it and hook 'em!

.

Agree completely except i have 0 faith NCAA will do anything. 40 years ago, NCAA has more integrity then it does not.

 

[pringlelake]

The chance of there being egregious "provable" recruiting violations at Texas A&M is practically nil. Those that are expecting some kind of major scandal or "punishment" being handed to the Aggies are simply going to be disappointed. Very disappointed.

 

[doc longhorn]

I doubt his kids were high school aged when he came on board at A&M.
The rumors on our end was that both the browns and eagles were interested in him after the '12 season and he declined both.

And yes I actually do live in college station. It's a great town for families. Small, good schools, low crime. All in all a pretty nice place to live.

His two oldest kids were 13 and 16 respectively - teenagers in my book. Old enough to have gained friendships in Houston and not want to leave.

We'll agree to disagree on who pursued whom regarding the NFL.

If you are content in College Station then you would be content in Port Arthur. I admire your ability to find happiness, no matter where you live.

 

[86MEHorn]

If you are content in College Station then you would be content in Port Arthur. I admire your ability to find happiness, no matter where you live.

Wow, that's a coin flip, Anton Chigurh style.

I would not last in CS.

 

[PropositionJoe]

His two oldest kids were 13 and 16 respectively - teenagers in my book. Old enough to have gained friendships in Houston and not want to leave.
We'll agree to disagree on who pursued whom regarding the NFL.

If you are content in College Station then you would be content in Port Arthur. I admire your ability to find happiness, no matter where you live.

He's also got a son who's about 11 or so and a daughter that is 14ish.

And you'd be surprised about college station. It's not just the campus. Pretty nice town to live in.

We had the opportunity to move to Austin last year and decided that it was a bit too big for us.

 

[86MEHorn]

And you'd be surprised about college station. It's not just the campus. Pretty nice town to live in.
We had the opportunity to move to Austin last year and decided that it was a bit too big for us.

Just tough for a Horn. We stayed in a hotel there years ago, and "Welcome to Aggie Land" in the lobby with Saw 'Em Off stickers everywhere was a bit much. Maybe things have changed...I'm guessing not much.

 

[PropositionJoe]

Probably is tough for a horn. The welcome to aggieland stuff is everywhere but I've seen fewer and fewer horns sawed off stuff.

 

[Agmaniacmike]

Yeah, I've never understood the College Station hate on here. There isn't nearly as many things to do as in Austin, but I'm not really a big city fella.

 

[doc longhorn]

Yeah, I've never understood the College Station hate on here. There isn't nearly as many things to do as in Austin, but I'm not really a big city fella.

LOL - the hate is because of the college that is there. No, actually CS is just another boring little Texas town to me. If this is ya'lls preference then that is fine. But, if the town was all that great there would be more ags wanting to stay there. But, instead, they are leaving in droves - there has to be a reason for that.

As for Austin and UT grads - you would be hard pressed to find a UT ex that didn't want to stay in Austin. There is a reason for that as well.

No, Mike and Joe, I think you both will have to admit that CS is certainly not a destination town. It is a burg that people are from - not going to. Austin, on the other hand, IS a destination city.

 

[PropositionJoe]

You'd actually be surprised at the number of folks moving back to college station.

And it's all about preference. Austin/Dallas/Houston just don't appeal to me very much.

 

[86MEHorn]

Yeah, I've never understood the College Station hate on here. There isn't nearly as many things to do as in Austin, but I'm not really a big city fella.

See post above. If you're a Horn, it's like you've reached Pleasantville and everything goes B&W when you cross city limits. Except in this case, its M&W.

 

[primal defense]

Yeah, I've never understood the College Station hate on here. There isn't nearly as many things to do as in Austin, but I'm not really a big city fella.

So you don't understand why we wouldn't want to live in College Station, but Austin is no big deal. Boy you are an aggie.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

So you don't understand why we wouldn't want to live in College Station, but Austin is no big deal. Boy you are an aggie.

To each his own, but I haven't seen any Chamber of Commerce advertisements that will make me believe B-CS is anything but a rural college town. No airport, no adult nightlife, no culture, etc. But, I'm sure it's a good, safe place to raise a family while rooting for them aggies. Gig 'em

 

[primal defense]

To each his own, but I haven't seen any Chamber of Commerce advertisements that will make me believe B-CS is anything but a rural college town. No airport, no adult nightlife, no culture, etc. But, I'm sure it's a good, safe place to raise a family while rooting for them aggies. Gig 'em

True. I grew up in a small town, so I can see the value of a small town over a city. For myself the exception is if that city is Austin.